//This is a non-refundable deposit to reserve your spot for our first rural textile travel to the Xela area, taking place from February 19th - 28th, 2027. Deadline to sign up is September 10th, 2026. Not applicable for store discounts (we will correct the discount in your second invoice).//
Join us for a new rural textile adventure to Xela and Beyond! Community visits include Momostenango, Salcajá, San Andrés Xecul, Cantel, Zunil, Almolonga, and the famous hot springs of the region.
Explore wool, jaspe (ikat), glass, traditional Maya backstrap weaving, footloom weaving, and more. Enjoy the historical city center of Quetzaltenango (lovingly referred to as "Xela" pronounced <sh-eh-lah>) and visit artisan-partnered businesses, organizations, and local artisan workshops as well as homes. What a privilege to experience community this way!
This trip is brought to you in collaboration with our friend Hanne De Wyngaert, designer and founder of Qué Onda Vos. Originally from Belgium, Hanne has made Guatemala her home for almost 15 years, working closely with indigenous weaving communities in the highlands. We're delighted to work with Hanne to share her favorite places and personal insight into her work in the communities of the area.
Total 9 nights: 5 nights in Xela + 1 night in natural hot springs + 3 nights in Antigua
This is an especially small-group offering as we will all be going in one van together. Min 6 participants / Max 8 participants
$3250 per person in single-occupancy rooms. Take $200 off per person when signing up together and sharing a room. Note that for the one night in the hot springs, cabin accommodations will be for 2 participants each, meaning everyone will be sharing a cabin for one night, even if selecting single room occupancy.
Reserve your spot with a $600 non-refundable deposit. The deposit is a little higher than for other itineraries in order to cover extended transport costs and other logistics in case of a cancellation.
Explore:
- Historic city center of Quetzaltenango (lovingly called "Xela" locally) as well as Antigua Guatemala.
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Community visits to Momostenango, Salcajá, San Andrés Xecul, Cantel, Zunil, and Almolonga.
- Crafts: wool, jaspe (ikat), glass, traditional Maya backstrap weaving, footloom weaving, and more.
- The beautiful natural hot springs of the area, staying overnight to enjoy outdoor natural pools and walking paths of the area.
- Hanne's personal passion working with wool artisans in Momostenango and beyond. Learn the joys and challenges of artisan-focused work in Guatemala from an expert.
- Our home sweet home: UNESCO-heritage city Antigua Guatemala.
- Cross-cultural gathering and friendships from within Guatemala and beyond.
- And more!
What's included?
- 5 nights Xela city center hotel, well situated for exploring the historic city center by foot.
- 1 night in a mountain cabin at a private natural hot springs reserve. Note that cabins need to be shared for this night - 2 pax per cabin.
- 3 nights in a central and historic Antigua Guatemala hotel, just a couple of blocks from the Kakaw studio
- Most meals, including home-cooked in artisan homes as well as gourmet restaurant meals.
- All rural community visits, including demonstrations and workshops.
- All in-country transport with a trusted driver. This includes airport transfers between Aurora Airport (Guatemala City) and Antigua at a date of your choice. We encourage all participants to arrive and stay a bit longer in Antigua when possible.
- Support for extending your stay in Antigua before and/or after the group itinerary.
- A printed-out "Antigua Guide" we have developed with our favorite places around town for participants to explore before and/or after the group trip.
- Two bilingual facilitators for the entire trip (Hanne + one Kakaw facilitator), with additional local village expert guides and facilitators for workshops and activities.
- Personalized pre-trip assistance and communication, including a group Zoom call.
NOTES:
- This itinerary includes home-cooked and restaurant meals in rural communities. We cannot guarantee changes to the menu to meet dietary restrictions. We will do our best, but those with special dietary needs should be prepared with snacks in case an alternative cannot be provided.
- This itinerary includes walking up and down hills on uneven ground. Community visits can be tiring, and participants need to be able to travel as a group from breakfast to dinner on many days to facilitate rural visits. The forest around the hot spring reserve can be moist, and walking through beautiful habitats require balance and mobility. If you feel unsure about physical ability, please reach out via email at hello@kakawdesigns.com.
- The drives to reach rural communities can be long, sometimes on windy roads. Expect a 4-hour drive for the longest of the legs for this trip. If we encounter road maintenance or other factors, this may be longer.
- The rest of the payment for this itinerary will be invoiced either after the sign-up deadline (August 30th) or when the spots fill. Instructions will follow.
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Some images were taken by Hanne.
Trip Cancellation Policy
If the trip is canceled by the participant:
- Up to two months to the start date of the course: full amount in credit form for future travel with Kakaw Designs to be used within 365 days of the original trip dates, minus the non-refundable deposit.
- Less than two months to the start of the course: 50% trip cost in credit form for future travel with Kakaw Designs to be used within 365 days of the original trip dates, minus the deposit.
- Less than one month to the start of the course: no refund or credit.
- Delay in joining the group for any reason: no refund or credit for missed time in Guatemala.
- Early return home or disruption of travel with the group for any reason, including missed meals or group activities: no refund or credit and traveler is responsible for any extra expenses incurred (transportation, etc.).
If the trip is canceled by the organizers due to unforeseen circumstances in Guatemala (volcano eruptions, COVID-19, etc.), the full amount is refunded minus the deposit and any associated bank transfer fees.
Questions? Reach out at hello@kakawdesigns.com
